NEWARK -- Less than a week after pleading guilty to state charges in a money laundering scheme, a former advisor to Assemblyman and former Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas admitted in federal court today that he illegally funneled money to Vas's congressional campaign.

Ray Geneske, a longtime friend of Vas, pleaded guilty to accepting $30,000 from a developer in 2006 and giving all but $5,000 to "straw donors" who wrote checks to the political campaign.

Patti Sapone/The Star-LedgerRaymond Geneske, 73, former chairman of the Perth Amboy Democratic Committee, in a court appearance last Friday.

Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge Susan Wigenton in Newark, the 73-year-old Geneske, a former Democratic committee chairman in Perth Amboy, also said he has agreed to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney General's Office and provide more information about the scheme.

The plea deal is likely to put increasing pressure on Vas, who has been accused in two state indictments and a federal indictment of using city funds to pay for personal expenditures during his mayoral terms, and laundering tens of thousands of dollars in contributions to his unsuccessful 2006 congressional campaign.

Vas, who still serves as assemblyman representing the 19th District in Middlesex County, is also accused of twice using his influence to steer government funds for low-income housing to developers as part of his efforts to raise campaign money.

Geneske faces a maximum of two years in prison, Assistant U.S. Brian Howe said in court. But after today's hearing, Geneske's attorney, Henry Klingeman, said he hoped his client will receive probation.

Vas lost the congressional race to then Assemblymen Albio Sires, a Hudson County Democrat.

Klingeman said Geneske "got nothing out of this. He devoted his life to the city as a teacher and community leader."

Ed Murray/The Star-LedgerAssemblyman Joseph Vas was arraigned on corruption charges in the Superior Court courtroom of Judge Frederick De Vesa in New Brunswick in April. He was arraigned on charges he stole $5,000 in goods and services from the city of Perth Amboy while he was mayor and rigged a public housing lottery for his driver.

On June 5, Geneske pleaded guilty in Superior Court in New Brunswick to state charges connected to the money laundering scheme and admitted most of the $30,000 from the developer was distributed to city employees and others he recruited to make out personal checks to the Vas campaign for up to $2,100. About $5,000 was used for get out the vote efforts in Woodbridge and Carteret late in the campaign.

Geneske said the developer, whom he identified as Eddie Trujillo, a major builder in the city and in other places, gave him $5,000 in February 2006, and $25,000 three months later.

The contributions far exceed campaign donor limits of $2,100 per individual. A lawyer for Trujillo has said he did nothing improper or illegal.

When Vas was arraigned in federal court on Wednesday, Howe said a grand jury was considering another indictment against the once powerful Democrat and additional charges are anticipated.

Last month, federal authorities unsealed an 11-count indictment accusing Vas of mail fraud and other charges in connection with a real estate deal that allegedly netted him nearly $300,000. Authorities said he used $75,000 from the sale for campaign finances.

Vas, 54, pleaded not guilty to the charges. His long time aide, Melvin Ramos, 53, has pleaded not guilty to federal fraud charges and falsifying campaign contribution records related to Vas' congressional run.

In March, a state grand jury accused Vas of conspiring to bill Perth Amboy taxpayers for $5,000 worth of beachwear, sneakers and other personal expenses, including the tab for his son's basketball camp. He was also charged with trying to rig a lottery so his ex-personal driver could purchase a government-subsidized house reserved for first-time, low-income home buyers.

Two months later, state authorities announced a second indictment against the former mayor. This time, he was accused of abusing his mayoral office to land $25,000 in home repairs, billing taxpayers for personal expenses.

Authorities also charged Vas with illegally arranging for a construction company to pay a $58,000 bill for catering services during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the city's public safety complex. Ramos was charged in the alleged campaign-contribution and catering schemes. His lawyer, Alberto Rivas, has said his client was not involved in any wrongdoing.